Less Salt, More Potassium = Healthier Heart
Effect of low sodium and high potassium diet on lowering blood pressure and cardiovascular events
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The study found that very low sodium intake might trigger the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), potentially increasing vascular resistance and harming the heart.
Most public health advice screams 'Eat less salt!' — but this suggests going too low might backfire, challenging the idea that 'the lower, the better.'
Practical Takeaways
Switch your table salt to a potassium-enriched salt substitute (like NoSalt or Nu-Salt) and add one banana, a cup of spinach, or a baked potato to your daily meals.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The study found that very low sodium intake might trigger the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), potentially increasing vascular resistance and harming the heart.
Most public health advice screams 'Eat less salt!' — but this suggests going too low might backfire, challenging the idea that 'the lower, the better.'
Practical Takeaways
Switch your table salt to a potassium-enriched salt substitute (like NoSalt or Nu-Salt) and add one banana, a cup of spinach, or a baked potato to your daily meals.
Publication
Journal
Clinical Hypertension
Year
2024
Authors
B. Kim, Mi-Yeon Yu, Jinho Shin
Related Content
Claims (4)
If you eat a little more potassium-rich food each day—like bananas or spinach—you might lower your risk of stroke and reduce your blood pressure a bit, even if you don’t change how much salt you eat.
Eating less salt and more potassium together lowers blood pressure better than just cutting salt or just adding potassium alone—and that’s why the DASH diet works so well.
If you have high blood pressure and eat less salt—cutting from about 4.6 grams down to 1.5–2.4 grams a day—your blood pressure will likely go down a bit, especially if you're older, Black, or have kidney disease or metabolic syndrome.
When you eat almost no salt, your body may overwork a system that controls blood pressure, making your blood vessels tighter and raising your risk of heart problems.